James R. Stellar Appointed University at Albany Provost

ALBANY, N.Y. (January 26, 2015) -- The University at Albany has named James R. Stellar as senior vice president for academic affairs and provost. Stellar, who was appointed after a national search, will join UAlbany on February 2, 2015.

Stellar most recently served at Queens College of the City University of New York (CUNY) as vice president for academic innovation and experiential education, and as provost and vice president for academic affairs for four years prior. Before joining CUNY, Stellar spent 22 years at Northeastern University in Boston, where he served for a decade as dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. He began his academic career at Harvard University as a professor in the department of psychology and social relations, and as a biochemistry researcher in the Harvard Medical School.

Stellar earned his doctorate in biological psychology from the University of Pennsylvania, where he also completed his post-doctoral studies. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in biology from Ursinus College in Collegeville, Pa.

"James Stellar possesses the research, scholarship, and administrative experience to guide our esteemed UAlbany faculty to further expand the University’s academic portfolio and strengthen our reputation as an innovative leader in the SUNY system, nationally and beyond," said University at Albany President Robert J. Jones.

Stellar's appointment comes at a time of extraordinary growth for the University, with significant advances in biomedical research from the RNA Institute, the creation of new academic programs in computer engineering, digital forensics, and the College of Emergency Preparedness, Homeland Security and Cybersecurity, and establishment of the statewide NYS Mesonet, the nation's most advanced weather observation system, under the stewardship of the University's Department of Atmospheric and Environmental Sciences.

Stellar will take over from R. Timothy Mulcahy, who has served as interim senior vice president for academic affairs and provost since September 2014.